Songaila to start

The Wizards will have Darius Songaila in at starting center tonight against Dwight Howard and the Magic while Andray Blatche will be demoted — at least for tonight — over “a team matter” according to coach Ed Tapscott.

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Not exactly sure what that team matter is, but Andray had been doing pretty well in the starting lineup, having averaged 11.11 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 10 starts. But this move isn’t related to his ankle injury suffered in Boston, but more of the disciplinary type.

Otherwise, all is normal.

Wednesday at 6 p.m. is the deadline by which teams must waive their non-guaranteed players to save money on his salary and avoid their deals turning into fully-garunteed deals. The only non-guaranteed player the Wizards have on the roster right now is Juan Dixon. And although players around the league will be cut, it doesn’t look like Dixon will be one of them despite his fluxuating playing time.

“As of right now, we have no plans of waiving Juan,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld told me over the phone this evening.

The key phrase in that is “as of right now.” Grunfeld and his staff will monitor other moves and see if anything pops up that could help them better. But it’s not likely. So if Juan’s on the roster by Jan. 10, his veterans minimum deal of $1.03 million becomes guaranteed. Ernie said the Wizards will be able to remain under the luxury tax even if Juan’s deal is fully guaranteed, and in closing, reiterated, “As of right now, our plan is for Juan to still be on our roster.”

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